Dakota Writing Project

A number of Dakota Writing Project teacher-consultants presented at the South Dakota Council of Teachers of English (SDCTE) Spring Conference on March 23-24, 2007, at the Cedar Shore Resort in Chamberlain. DWP presenters included Tim Duggan, Michelle Rogge Gannon, Anne Moege, Sue Morrell, Sharon Olbertson, Reva Potter, Karen Rahn, and DWP director Nancy Zuercher.

Friday, March 23rd, Nancy Zuercher (University of South Dakota) and SDCTE president Anne Moege (Mitchell Middle School) participated in a round-table discussion, with Nancy leading off the discussion with "Let's Write and Publish" and Anne ending the discussion with "Let's Talk." Sue Morrell, along with fellow teacher Kara Neugebauer, presented "We Survived the 1 to 1," connecting the Governor's 1-to-1 initiative with computers in Wagner Community School to Dakota Writing Project practice and theory. Sharon Olbertson (Kilian Community College) presented " 'Because They Said So': New Research on the Teaching of Writing," focusing on "11 Key Elements of Effective Adolescent Writing Instructions."Michelle Rogge Gannon (University of South Dakota), Anne Moege (Mitchell Middle School), Reva Potter (Belle Fourche Middle School), and Karen Rahn (Rutland Public School) shared some of what they have learned about integrating writing and technology in the DWP Electronic Writing Marathon, also showing how they have applied what they've learned to their classrooms. Tim Duggan (University of South Dakota) presented "Sheridan Blau's Literature Workshop, " focusing on "new techniques for generating meaningful class discussion of literature with reading and writing strategies."

Next year's SDCTE Spring Conference is scheduled for February 2008. Details will be available at a later date on the SDCTE website.